Judges
7:8-15 (NIV) So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept
the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.
Now the
camp of Midian lay below him in the valley. 9 During that night the Lord said
to Gideon, "Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give
it into your hands. 10 If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with
your servant Purah 11 and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will
be encouraged to attack the camp." So he and Purah his servant went down
to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the
other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels
could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.
13
Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a
dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling
into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent
overturned and collapsed."
14 His
friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son
of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into
his hands."
15 When
Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to
the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The Lord has given the
Midianite camp into your hands."
NOTE: So Gideon is
down from 32,000 troops to 300, and God knows that is scared. I think I would
be too. I'm not sure if a miracle or two would remove that fear either. It's
not what was behind but what is in front that worries me. But God is gracious
and recognizes a very real fear in Gideon. He gives Gideon the opportunity to
hear what the Midianites are saying, but he does not require him to go down and
listen. Gideon does and of course God provides for him a sign through a dream
given to one of the pagan soldiers. I think he also realizes that as much as he
was afraid of the Midianites (especially with only 300 troops), they are afraid
of him (although they don't know about the 300). Gideon correctly worships God
and is obedient. It is not a complete slam dunk and he has to pass his new
courage onto his troops but it is an amazing story of what God can do when we
are obedient to him. We can still see the wonders of old if we are willing to
obey his leading.
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